Frequently Asked Questions

JT Roby (James Taylor Roby) is a lifelong Bardstown resident, a special education teacher at Nelson County High School, and the Democratic nominee for Nelson County Judge/Executive in the 2026 election. He graduated from Bardstown High School in 1999, attended Transylvania University and Eastern Kentucky University, and previously owned a cryotherapy business in Bardstown before becoming a teacher.

He's running because he believes county government should be transparent, proactive, and genuinely focused on the people it serves — and he decided that if he wanted to see that happen, he had to step up and do it himself.

The Nelson County Judge/Executive is the chief executive of county government — think of it as the "CEO" of Nelson County. They preside over fiscal court (the county's legislative body), oversee the county budget, manage county departments and infrastructure, and represent the county in regional and state matters.

It's NOT a judicial role — despite the name, the Judge/Executive doesn't preside over court cases. It's an administrative and leadership position. The decisions made in this office affect roads, the budget, infrastructure, economic development, and how county services are delivered to you every single day.

JT was born and raised in Bardstown. He graduated from Bardstown High School in 1999, went to Transylvania University on a cross-country scholarship, then transferred to Eastern Kentucky University when Transy went Division III (losing his athletic scholarship). He earned his degree in speech communication, with coursework in sales, marketing, and public speaking.

He built a career in sales — working as a ladder rep covering the northeast U.S. — then came home and opened Rapid Recovery Cryotherapy in Bardstown, working with student athletes. That work with young people is what led him to teaching. He's now been a special education teacher at Nelson County High School for four years. His dad Jim served on the Bardstown City School Board for 30+ years, so public service runs in the family.

JT won the Democratic primary on May 19, 2026 with approximately 64% of the vote in a three-way race against Benjamin Corder and Shameca Ashby. He now faces incumbent Republican Tim Hutchins — who won the GOP primary with about 66% — in the general election on November 3, 2026. It's a competitive race, and in a county of roughly 46,000 people, a relatively small number of votes will decide the outcome.

JT's platform is built on four pillars:

1. Fiscal Transparency — an "open gradebook" so citizens can see exactly how and where county money is spent.

2. Real Infrastructure — fixing high-traffic roads and expanding high-speed internet to every corner of the county.

3. Smart Growth & Preserved Heritage — growing the economy without giving up farmland or historic charm. Industrial parks should be concentrated, and companies should foot the bill for their own infrastructure.

4. Healthier & Safer Community — first responders with modern equipment and competitive pay, plus community-based addiction recovery.

Read the full details on the Platform page.

The open gradebook is JT's signature idea for fiscal transparency — a digital, public system where any citizen can see exactly how and where Nelson County money is being spent, in real time, from their phone. He calls it an "open gradebook" because, just like students and parents can see grades online anytime, citizens should be able to see county finances the same way. The technology exists. The only thing missing is the will to use it.

The bourbon barrel tax has been a significant source of revenue for Nelson County, and as the state phases it out, the county faces a real fiscal gap. JT is NOT in favor of raising taxes, but he's not opposed to it either. What he wants is a systematic, gradual approach — with real lead time and honest communication with residents about what's coming. He'd rather have the hard conversations now, while there's time to plan, than make rushed decisions in a crisis later.

No. JT is NOT in favor of data center development in Nelson County. His concern is that data centers put enormous strain on local utilities and water supply — he's specifically mentioned concerns about Simpson's Lake water levels. These facilities consume massive amounts of electricity and water, and the payoff for the local community is minimal compared to the profit that goes to out-of-state tech companies. He believes Nelson County's resources should serve the people who live here.

Whiskey fungus (Baudoinia compniacensis) is the black mold that grows on homes, cars, and property near bourbon warehouses and distilleries. It's a real and costly issue for Nelson County residents — the kind of hidden cost that doesn't show up in any budget but shows up on people's siding, roofs, and vehicles. JT believes county government should be honest about these trade-offs and advocate for residents dealing with cleanup costs, while recognizing the bourbon industry's importance to the local economy.

JT is concerned about the lack of affordable housing and starter homes in Nelson County, along with escalating property tax assessments that price people out. This hits young people especially hard — they're getting priced out of the county they grew up in. He wants smart growth that includes housing working families and young people can actually afford, not just high-end developments.

Yes. One of JT's most practical ideas is taking fiscal court meetings out of the courthouse and into the community. He wants quarterly meetings held in different parts of the county — Cox's Creek, Bloomfield, New Haven, Boston — at times that actually work for working people and students, not just the standard daytime slot that most people can't attend. Government should come to the people, not the other way around.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. If you're in line by 6 PM, you can still vote.

To vote: (1) Register or check your registration at go vote.ky.gov. (2) Find your polling place through the Kentucky State Board of Elections. (3) Show up on November 3 with a valid ID. Kentucky also offers early in-person voting before Election Day.

See the full guide on our Vote page.

Yes. In Kentucky, if you will turn 18 on or before November 3, 2026, you can register now and vote in the general election. So if your 18th birthday is anytime on or before November 3, 2026 — register today.

Yes. As a student, you can choose to register and vote either at your home address (Nelson County) or at your school address — but you can only vote in one place. If Nelson County is your home, keep your registration here and vote for JT. You can vote absentee by mail if you're away at school on Election Day.

Kentucky requires a valid photo ID or a form of ID that shows your name and address. Accepted IDs include a Kentucky driver's license, a US passport, a student ID with a photo, a military ID, or a government-issued ID. If you don't have one of these, you can sign a reasonable impediment form at the polls and still vote.

Yes. Kentucky offers in-person early voting (no excuse needed) in the days before Election Day. Check the Nelson County Clerk's website or the Kentucky State Board of Elections for exact early voting dates, hours, and locations for 2026. This is a great option if you can't make it on November 3 or just want to get it done early.

Yes — more than in almost any other election you'll ever vote in. Local elections in Nelson County are routinely decided by a few hundred votes, sometimes fewer. That means a handful of people who show up and vote — who usually don't — can literally change the outcome. If you've never voted before, a local race like this is exactly where your vote has the most power.

You can volunteer by canvassing (knocking doors and talking to voters), phone banking (calling voters from home), requesting a yard sign, hosting a house party, sharing on social media, or texting friends to encourage them to vote. Email JTR.Nelson1st@gmail.com to sign up, or visit the Get Involved page.

You can donate through the campaign Facebook page, by CashApp or Venmo (email the campaign for payment details and QR code), or by mailing a check. Email JTR.Nelson1st@gmail.com for donation instructions. Local campaigns run on small budgets, so every dollar genuinely matters — a $10 donation is meaningful here.

Email JTR.Nelson1st@gmail.com with your name and address to request a JT Roby yard sign, or message the campaign on Facebook. Yard signs are one of the most cost-effective ways to build name recognition in a local race — every sign in a high-traffic spot helps.

You can email the campaign at JTR.Nelson1st@gmail.com, follow on Facebook (Nelson1st - JT Roby for County Judge Executive), connect on LinkedIn, or view JT's digital business card to save his contact info to your phone.

There's a full slate of Democratic candidates in Nelson County for 2026, including races for State Senate District 14 (Carrie Truitt), Sheriff (AJ Lewis), State House District 50 (JD Netherton), and county magistrate seats. You can learn about all the Nelson County Democratic candidates at nelsonkydems.pages.dev. Vote the whole ticket.